The expression “starving college student” refers to
the fact that college students are often too financially broke to
afford a meal. But many UCLA students and graduates are able to
afford everything they want ““ from dinner to shopping on
Melrose Avenue to paying rent ““ by doing one thing: waiting
tables.
For many waiters, quick service and a friendly smile go a long
way.
“I’ve been making $100 a night, plus hourly
wages,” said Mark Chipello, a fourth-year religious studies
student and BJ’s Restaurant and Brewery waiter.
Chipello is a full-time student at UCLA, pursuing a career in
music as the drummer for the L.A. band Stafford. For him, the
flexibility to work the hours he desires is the biggest enticement
toward being a waiter.
“There is no other job I can work part-time and make as
much money as I make now,” he said.
Most waiters say they bring home on average $100 in cash per
night at the end of their shifts. Tony Aguilar, manager of
Jerry’s Famous Deli, said that in addition to his
employees’ hourly wage, which at most Westwood restaurants is
$6.75, waiters typically earn about $20 to $30 every hour in
tips.
“What they are making in 25 hours a week is more than most
jobs you can find working full time,” added Alvaro Garcia,
manager of the Westwood-based California Pizza Kitchen.
As a result, waiting tables has historically been a job that
college students have worked to finance their expenses. Take Pat
Kondzella, manager of the newly opened Chili’s Bar and Grill
on Westwood Blvd. In college, Kondzella paid his way through school
by serving, busing, and cooking for restaurants.
UCLA students wait on tables at most Westwood restaurants,
ranging from Palomino to Acapulco, but the concentration of student
waiters are in the energetic atmospheres of the casual dining
spots, such as BJ’s, California Pizza Kitchen and
Chili’s.
Chili’s, for example, has a staff of 50 servers, more than
half of which are college students, Kondzella said. He attributed
this to the instant financial satisfaction of working a tipped
profession.
“(Servers) make most of their money in tips, and that
means cash, so there is more money in their pockets,” he
said.
In addition to walking home with scores of cash and working in a
fast-paced, upbeat environment, college students learn valuable
lessons as a server ““ lessons that Garcia said will benefit
students after they graduate.
“They have the need to be professional, and it’s a
good training ground for responsibility,” Garcia said.
Kondzella added that waiting tables allows students to develop
people skills that are essential to being successful.
Students who have no server experience should not be discouraged
because many Westwood restaurants are always looking for hosts and
hostesses, who can later be promoted to server.
“If you are a good host ““ people skills, friendly
““ you will get promoted to server,” Aguilar said.
Summer is a particularly good time for newcomers to the
restaurant business in Westwood. Many students have graduated or
left town for the summer, opening up numerous employment
positions.
At a time when the unemployment rate is rising, waiting tables
may be a necessary supplement for vanishing office jobs.
“Serving, bartending and cocktailing are always skills you
can fall back on if you need a job,” said April Tatton, a
fourth-year American literature and culture student.